out of curiosity

I almost asked, then had the sense to look it up.

yes - this does apply to O/O or O/L who have leased on to a carrier - the approval for the passenger must come from the holder of the AUTHORITY under which the CMV is operating

 

And if your an O/O have your own aurth.an ins.You still have to have approval.I was moving a frontend loader and the operator was riding.Stopped by TX.DOT checked paper work then asked who that was in truck.When I told him it was the operator.Said OK .

 

Back in the "old" days, I frequently had riders forced upon me. I was a missionary and sometimes I had to haul another particular person's stuff from one state to another if I happened to be dead-heading. And on those occasions, I would frequently have to "haul" the owner of the stuff, as well.
I must be quite frank and honest: I HATED it. Freakin' side-seat drivers giving me all KINDS of unwanted and unneeded advice - freakin' out at every little obstacle, pressing themselves into my personal business. It was more than an annoyance, it was a kind of hell on wheels. I got away with a lot of stuff in those days - and driving 1,500 miles without stopping for anything more than fuel and go to the bathroom was not out of the question. I did that everytime I had a passenger - just get the trip over with and get AWAY from that person. Good grief, that brings up some BAD memories!